Graduates Boo Mentions of AI at Multiple U.S. University Ceremonies

U.S. college ceremonies interrupted proceedings after speakers or an automated system mentioned artificial intelligence. At the University of Central Florida, real estate executive Gloria Caulfield told arts and humanities graduates that the rise of artificial intelligence is the next industrial revolution.

Audience members responded with boos and jeers. Caulfield continued by noting that only a few years ago AI was not a factor in daily life, which drew cheers.

Arizona ceremony A week later, former Google chief executive Eric Schmidt spoke at a University of Arizona graduation. The crowd heckled throughout much of the address and grew louder when Schmidt referenced Time Magazine naming the Architects of AI as its 2025 person of the year.

Schmidt paused, then stated that AI will touch every profession, classroom, hospital, laboratory, person, and relationship.

College incident At Glendale Community College in Arizona last week, an AI system used to read graduate names on a live stream failed to match students walking across the stage. The screen eventually displayed only a generic message saying Congratulations Graduate.

College president Tiffany Hernandez told the audience the college was using a new AI system as its reader, prompting sustained jeers. Hernandez said graduates who had already walked would not be reintroduced with corrected names. After continued protests, she announced that remaining graduates could be introduced by a human reader stationed at the stage stairs.

Some attendees left before the change took effect, while others waited for human announcements. A clip of the Glendale event has received more than 9 million views on X, according to local broadcaster Arizona's Family.